El-Rufai’s family protests alleged DSS custody transfer, cites court order violations

Family members of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of violating existing court orders regarding his detention.

The family staged a protest at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, alleging that El-Rufai was moved into DSS custody despite court directives ordering that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Speaking during the protest, Asia El-Rufai, wife of the former governor, said the family had been subjected to fear, threats and psychological distress since the development.

“We now live in constant fear. Every day we get a threat — DSS is coming to raid your house, ICPC is coming to raid your house, police are coming to raid your house. You are being followed. Our phones are tapped,” she said.

Asia explained that El-Rufai had earlier appeared before Justice Joyce AbdulMalik of the Federal High Court, who granted him bail and adjourned proceedings until later in the day. She alleged that during the break, he was briefly taken to a DSS facility despite subsisting court orders directing that he remain in ICPC custody.

According to her, El-Rufai resisted the transfer and questioned why he was being moved to the DSS facility. She also claimed that after the afternoon court session, he was again returned to the DSS despite earlier agreements between the agencies.

The family further alleged that El-Rufai, who they said had spent 91 days in custody, had been denied access to his personal doctors despite a Kaduna High Court order granting him unrestricted access to lawyers and physicians.

Also speaking, Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives and son of the former governor, described the case as politically motivated and criticised the bail conditions imposed on his father as excessively stringent.